Nouns & Their Uses

Recognizing Nouns
• A noun is a word that names.
• Persons
• Places
• Things
• Ideas
 Recognizing Nouns
• A compound noun is two or more words
used as a single noun
• Matthew Henry
• Life of Cromwell
• Mother-in-law
• barbershop
 Recognizing Nouns
• A collective noun names a group and is
singular in form.
• herd
• team
• swarm
• flock
• orchestra
• club
 Practice
• Circle the nouns
• Maxwell did not confine his activities to the
laboratory, but worked for Christ in his
church and community. He visited the sick
and encouraged those who were
downtrodden. Maxwell was a leader in his
church and helped to establish it with both his
time and money. James Maxwell gave his
best to every endeavor and was a success
both as a scientist and as a Christian.
 Recognizing Common &
Proper Nouns
• A common noun names a person,
place, thing, or idea, but does not say
which particular one.
• man
• state
• airplane
• horse
• hope
 Recognizing Common &
Proper Nouns
• A proper noun names a particular
person, place, or thing and always
begins with a capital letter.
• John Calvin
• Nebraska
• Southern Cross
 Practice
• Underline common nouns; circle proper
nouns
• Ludwig van Beethoven was born in the city of
Bonn in western Germany. His father was
musically gifted, and his grandfather had
been a high-ranking musician in Cologne.
Although his early years were troubled, he
soon triumphed over his difficulties.
 Making Verbs Agree with
Noun Subjects
• A subject is a noun or pronoun that tells
WHO or WHAT the sentence is about.
• The verb of a sentence must agree with
its subject in number
 Making Verbs Agree with
Noun Subjects
• Singular subjects take singular verbs
• Plural subjects take plural verbs.
• Nouns ending in s are usually plural.
• Verbs ending in s are usually singular
• The boy works hard.
• Singular
• The boys work hard.
• Plural
 Making Verbs Agree with
Noun Subjects
• The number of a subject is not usually
affected by phrases between the
subject and the verb.
• The row of bushes was planted to form a
privacy screen.
• Singular
• The boats by the dock need repair.
• plural
 Making Verbs Agree with
Noun Subjects
• The verb agrees with the subject, not
the predicate nominative.
• The steaks were the biggest expense.
• The biggest expense was the steaks.
 Practice
• Underline each subject; cross out the
incorrect verb in parentheses.
• Only a handful of students (were, was)
needed to finish decorating the float for
the parade.
• The many names of God (reflect,
reflects) His various attributes.
 Homework
• Grammar page 99 #3-14
• Write subject and correct verb
 Making Verbs Agree with
Noun Subjects
• If a sentence asks a question or begins
with there or here you MUST be careful
to locate the subject and make the verb
agree with it.
• What is the title of your project?
• There are thirty-five pages in this chapter.
 Making Verbs Agree with
Noun Subjects
• Doesn’t, isn’t, and wasn’t are singular
and must be used with singular
subjects.
• The car wasn’t made in America.
• Don’t, aren’t, and weren’t are plural and
must be used with plural subjects.
 Making Verbs Agree with
Noun Subjects
• Titles of literary works, works of art,
organizations, cities, and countries are
usually singular even if they are plural in
form.
• Pickwick Papers is a novel written by
Charles Dickens.
 Making Verbs Agree with
Noun Subjects
• The following words are usually
singular:
• Mumps
• Measles
• Rickets
• Molasses
• News
• Stamina
 Practice
• Underline each subject; cross out
incorrect verb in parenthesis.
• Rickets (is, are) a disease that can be
prevented by a generous exposure to
sunlight.
• Here (is, are) the lab reports you were
waiting for.
 Answers
• Rickets is a disease that can be
prevented by a generous exposure to
sunlight.
• Here are the lab reports you were
waiting for.
 Homework
• Freshmen
• Grammar page 100 #3-15
• Write subject and correct verb
• Sophomores
• Grammar page 93 #1-10
• Write subject and correct verb
 Making Verbs Agree with
Noun Subjects
• Collective nouns may be either singular
or plural.
• Collective nouns name a group
• Jury, team, class, family
• The jury has been dismissed.
• Singular
• The jury were unable to agree among
themselves.
• Plural
 Making Verbs Agree with
Noun Subjects
• Expressions stating amounts may be either
singular or plural.
• Singular when the amount is considered a
unit.
• Two thirds of the milk was spilled on the floor.
• Plural when amount is regarded as separate
parts.
• Two thirds of the peanuts were gone.
 Making Verbs Agree with
Noun Subjects
• Words that end in -ics may be singular or
plural depending on their meaning.
• Courses of study or science terms are
considered singular.
• Civics was his best subject.
• Mathematics is a pure science.
• All other -ics words are considered plural.
• Gymnastics are preformed before large audiences
now.
 Practice
• Underline each subject; cross out the
incorrect verb in parentheses.
• Two thousand pounds (equal, equals)
one U.S. ton.
• Hydrodynamics (is, are) the science
concerned with the behavior of water in
motion.
 Answers
• Two thousand pounds equals one U.S.
ton.
• Hydrodynamics is the science
concerned with the behavior of water in
motion.
 Homework
• Grammar page 101 #3-15
• Write each subject and the correct verb.
 Making Verbs Agree with
Noun Subjects
• Compound subjects joined by “and”
take a plural verb.
• Jacob and Joe were here today
• Sometimes subjects joined by and refer
to only one person or are considered as
one thing.
• Our quarterback and team captain is
Brandon Johnson.
 Making Verbs Agree with
Noun Subjects
• When a compound subject is joined by
or, nor, either…or, or neither…nor, the
verb agrees with the NEARER subject.
• Either her helpers or the librarian is there
to assist you.
 Practice
• The Constitution and the United States
(was, were) frigates which fought in the
War of 1812.
• Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci
(was, were) famous painter during the
Renaissance.
 Answers
• The Constitution and the United States
were frigates which fought in the War of
1812.
• Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci
were famous painter during the
Renaissance.
 Practice
• Canaries or parakeets (makes, make)
great pets; the former are known for
their song, the latter for their ability to
imitate speech.
• For every school program, Adam or
Steve (asks, ask) to work the lights.
 Answers
• Canaries or parakeets make great pets;
the former are known for their song, the
latter for their ability to imitate speech.
• For every school program, Adam or
Steve asks to work the lights.
 Practice
• The judge and the jury (is, are) waiting
for the final witness to appear.
• Neither the doctor nor his nurses (is,
are) in the office on Wednesdays.
• Hitler and Mussolini (was, were) both
dictators.
 Answers
• The judge and the jury are waiting for
the final witness to appear.
• Neither the doctor nor his nurses are in
the office on Wednesdays.
• Hitler and Mussolini were both dictators.
 Using Nouns as Predicate
Nominatives
• A predicate nominative is a noun that
follows a linking verb and renames or
explains the subject.
• Mr. Hurley is our coach.
 Using Nouns as Predicate
Nominatives
• In a sentence containing a predicate
nominative, you can always replace the
verb with the word equals.
• Ezra was a ready scribe.
• Ezra equals scribe.
• Deuteronomy is the last book of the
Pentateuch.
• Deuteronomy equals book.
 Using Nouns as Predicate
Nominatives
• Predicate nominatives can NEVER be
in a prepositional phrase.
• Deuteronomy is the last book of the
Pentateuch.
• Book is the predicate nominative.
• Pentateuch is not because is in a prepositional
phrase.
 Using Nouns as Predicate
Nominatives
• Predicate nominatives may be
compound.
• Some early men of great faith were Job,
Enoch, and Noah.
 Using Nouns as Predicate
Nominatives
• Predicate nominatives are sometimes
called subject complements. Subject
complements always follow linking
verbs.
 List of Linking Verbs
• Memorize the list of linking verbs.
Linking Verbs

Am Were Taste Look Grow

Is Be Feel Appear Remain

Are Being Smell Become Stay

Was Been Sound Seem

 Practice
• Underline the linking verb; circle the
predicate nominative.
• Patrick Henry was a famous statesman
from Virginia.
• Francis Marion and Ethan Allen were
courageous military leaders during the
Revolutionary War.
 Answers
• Patrick Henry was a famous statesman
from Virginia.
• Francis Marion and Ethan Allen were
courageous military leaders during the
Revolutionary War.
 Homework
• Freshmen
• Page 104 #3-10
• Write linking verb and predicate nominative
• Sophomores
• Page 98 # 1-10
• Write linking verb and predicate nominative
 Using Nouns as Direct
Objects
• There are two kinds of complements
that follow action verbs:
 Direct objects
 Indirect objects
 Using Nouns as Direct
Objects
• A direct object is a noun (or a pronoun)
that follows an action verb and receives
the action from that verb.
• A good tree bears good fruit.
• Tree bears what?
• Fruit
 Using Nouns as Direct
Objects
• If no word answers the question whom
or what after the verb, the sentence has
no direct object.
• She smiled pleasantly.
 Using Nouns as Direct
Objects
• Direct objects can never be in
prepositional phrases.
• We ate steak at a fine restaurant.
• We ate what?
• Steak
 Using Nouns as Direct
Objects
• Direct objects may be compound
• God created the heavens and the earth.
• God created what?
• Heavens and earth.
 Practice
• Underline the direct objects.
• Bears often eat grubworms and fish.
• Achan hid the silver and gold in his tent.
• Check you papers for correct spelling.
• The band needs a flute player and a
drummer before next week.
• Samson killed the lion with his bare
hands.
 Answers

• Bears often eat grubworms and fish.

• Achan hid the silver and gold in his tent.
• Check you papers for correct spelling.
• The band needs a flute player and a
drummer before next week.
• Samson killed the lion with his bare
hands.
 More Practice...
• Ananias kept part of the price of the land
for himself.
• The President gave the State of the
Union address in January.
• Hardwood trees lose their leaves in late
fall.
• The Israelites won a decisive battle at
Jericho.
• Daniel gave the credit to God for the
interpretation of dreams.
 Answers
• Ananias kept part of the price of the land
for himself.
• The President gave the State of the
Union address in January.
• Hardwood trees lose their leaves in late
fall.
• The Israelites won a decisive battle at
Jericho.
• Daniel gave the credit to God for the
interpretation of dreams.
 Homework
• Freshmen
• Page 107 Exercise A #11-20
• Just write direct object
• Sophomores
• Page 100 Exercise B #1-6
 Recognizing Objects of
Prepositions

An object of a preposition is a noun (or
a pronoun) that completes a
prepositional phrase.

Chris entered the room and sat
down in the first chair.

Chair is the object of the
preposition in
 Practice

Underline the nouns used as objects of
prepositions.

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down
in green pastures: He leadeth me beside still waters. He restoreth my
soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear
no evil: for Thou are with me; They rod and Thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness
and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the
house of the Lord forever.
 Answer...

Underline the nouns used as objects of
prepositions

The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down
in green pastures: He leadeth me beside still waters. He restoreth my
soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear
no evil: for Thou are with me; They rod and Thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness
and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the
house of the Lord forever